Visa guides
Know the paperwork before you accept the offer
Every ESL market has a different definition of “ready to hire.” These guides show the visa, documents, timing, costs, and common mistakes before you commit to a school.
Documents
Degree copies, apostilles, background checks, transcripts, and medical checks.
Timing
When to start, what can delay you, and when a school can issue final paperwork.
Next action
Country guide, job board, or resume submission once you know the path.
All teacher visa guides at a glance
Duration and cost as written in each guide. Rules vary by passport and employer, so use this to shortlist and the guide and official source to confirm.
| Guide | Country | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| E-2 Visa (South Korea) | South Korea | 1 year, renewable. Multi-year extensions possible after completing a contract. |
| Z Visa (China) | China | 1 year, renewable. Many teachers do 2-3 year contracts. |
| Instructor Visa (Japan) | Japan | 1, 3, or 5 years depending on the case. JET issues 1-year visas; eikaiwa chains often 3. |
| Auxiliares de Conversación (Spain) | Spain | Academic year (October to May or June). Renewable for one or two additional years. |
| Work Permit and TRC (Vietnam) | Vietnam | Work Permit: 2 years renewable. TRC: matches the Work Permit duration. |
| Non-Immigrant B Visa (Thailand) | Thailand | Initial Non-B: 90 days. After Work Permit issued, extendable to 1 year. Renewable annually. |
| Work Visa (UAE) | United Arab Emirates | Typically 2 years, matched to contract. Renewable as long as you remain employed. |
| Colombia Work Visa: M Trabajador (formerly TP-4) | Colombia | Up to 3 years, matched to your contract. It counts toward later residency under the resolution's time-accumulation rules. |
Confirm with the official source
Before you pay for documents, check the current rules on the government site, and ask your school which visa category it will sponsor and who pays the fees.
- National Immigration Administration of China (English)
- Chinese Visa Application Service Center
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China (consular services)
- HCCH Apostille Convention status table (check your country's apostille route)
- Thailand e-Visa (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
- Immigration Bureau of Thailand
- HiKorea (Korea Immigration Service e-services)
Links last checked 11 October 2026. For Southeast Asian destinations, AsiaVisaGuide covers the wider visa landscape.
Asia
5 guidesSouth Korea
E-2 Visa (South Korea)
Korea's standard work visa for native-English ESL teachers. Bachelor's, criminal check, sealed transcripts.
China
Z Visa (China)
China's work visa for foreign teachers. Two years' work experience, TEFL, and a notarized background check required.
Japan
Instructor Visa (Japan)
Japan's visa for K-12 ALT and public school teaching roles. Bachelor's required, native-English speaker preference.
Vietnam
Work Permit and TRC (Vietnam)
Vietnam's combination of Work Permit plus Temporary Residence Card. Bachelor's + TEFL + health check.
Thailand
Non-Immigrant B Visa (Thailand)
Thailand's work visa for foreign teachers. The visa, the work permit and the Teachers' Council permission are three separate steps.
Sorting the paperwork?
The certificate most visas require, plus insurance for the gap before your school's cover starts.
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